Exam related anxiety and its management amongst medical students

Location

Auditorium Pond Side

Start Date

26-2-2014 10:30 AM

Abstract

Introduction: To assess examination related anxiety amongst medical students by test anxiety inventory and to determine the factors contributing to exam anxiety and management of exam anxiety by medical students.

Methods: A cross sectional study using structured self-administered questionnaire and an online questionnaire was carried out over four weeks in Dow Medical College using sample size of 300 students of the different years of study from first year to final year. Duration of study was four weeks in May 2013. Survey questionnaire consisted of Standard Test Inventory to measure intensity of exam anxiety and questions regarding Factors Causing Exam Anxiety and Management techniques to overcome Exam anxiety. The data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0.

Result: A total of 300 filled in the questionnaire. There were 262 (87.3%) female and 38(12.7%) male students. The analysis revealed that the major factors contributing to exam anxiety was extensive course load 177 (59% ) whereas 98 (32%) students thought that inadequate rest during exams contributed to exam anxiety. 128 students (42.7%) reported sleep disturbances before the exam ,96 (32%) said that they could not relax physically.172 (57.3 %) students felt that praying was the best way to combat exam anxiety, 119 (39.7%) maintained a positive attitude while 19% felt that eating and drinking caffeinated drinks before the exam helped to perform better.

Conclusion: This study indicates high prevalence of exam anxiety amongst students of Dow Medical College (DMC) and also highlights factors such as extensive course load, lack of exercise and long duration of exams which contribute to Exam Anxiety and techniques such as praying and maintaining a positive attitude to reduce anxiety. This also requires strategic planning, encouraging medical students to adapt a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords: examphobia, medical students, examanxiety, extensivecourseload

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Feb 26th, 10:30 AM

Exam related anxiety and its management amongst medical students

Auditorium Pond Side

Introduction: To assess examination related anxiety amongst medical students by test anxiety inventory and to determine the factors contributing to exam anxiety and management of exam anxiety by medical students.

Methods: A cross sectional study using structured self-administered questionnaire and an online questionnaire was carried out over four weeks in Dow Medical College using sample size of 300 students of the different years of study from first year to final year. Duration of study was four weeks in May 2013. Survey questionnaire consisted of Standard Test Inventory to measure intensity of exam anxiety and questions regarding Factors Causing Exam Anxiety and Management techniques to overcome Exam anxiety. The data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0.

Result: A total of 300 filled in the questionnaire. There were 262 (87.3%) female and 38(12.7%) male students. The analysis revealed that the major factors contributing to exam anxiety was extensive course load 177 (59% ) whereas 98 (32%) students thought that inadequate rest during exams contributed to exam anxiety. 128 students (42.7%) reported sleep disturbances before the exam ,96 (32%) said that they could not relax physically.172 (57.3 %) students felt that praying was the best way to combat exam anxiety, 119 (39.7%) maintained a positive attitude while 19% felt that eating and drinking caffeinated drinks before the exam helped to perform better.

Conclusion: This study indicates high prevalence of exam anxiety amongst students of Dow Medical College (DMC) and also highlights factors such as extensive course load, lack of exercise and long duration of exams which contribute to Exam Anxiety and techniques such as praying and maintaining a positive attitude to reduce anxiety. This also requires strategic planning, encouraging medical students to adapt a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords: examphobia, medical students, examanxiety, extensivecourseload